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New Grading Policy: "Benchmark Assessments"

For the Fourth Marking Period, I will be piloting a new grading system, which I call Benchmark Assessment. I will continue to use the class activities that students have been using all year, but will add regular "benchmark assessments" to the mix. These assessments will form a required foundation for all other graded work. This change will move away from a strict point-based grading system towards a standards-based system.

"Big Ideas" Form the Foundation of Passing Grades

These "benchmark assessments" will be based on the "big ideas" of the course, and all students will be held accountable for demonstrating mastery of these ideas. While many details of their school work will undoubtedly fade from memory, the benchmarks will involve the ideas that should stay with them long after the course ends. Because these benchmarks are so important, students will not pass the course until they master the benchmark assessments, and they will get as many chances as they need to demonstrate mastery.

Higher Grades Go Above And Beyond The Benchmarks

Once a student demonstrates mastery of the benchmarks, s/he is assured of passing the course. All of the other assignments will determine whether s/he earns an "A", a "D", or somewhere in between. If a student masters the benchmark assessments, they are assured of a passing grade. This policy should reassure students who typically struggle in school that they will not fail the course if they persist in learning the most important lessons. Students striving for excellence will still be offered challenging work, and the degree of those challenges can be tailored to match the individual needs of the student.

Changing the Conversation

My hope is that this benchmark system will change the nature of my conversations with students, so they are not asking me about points, but about solar energy and space travel--not about how to get credit for their work, but how they can grow as a student and prepare themselves for a rewarding and meaningful life.

Other Policies

1. Class Assignments

Each chapter will see a number of class assignments which will be graded on a 5 point scale (5=Advanced, 4=Proficient, 3=Basic, 2=Below Basic). These assignments will usually be delivered through my iCal subscription , and will be "Printed to a PDF" and dragged to the Hand-in Robot!

2. Quia Quizzes

You will be given formative quizzes throughout the chapter to see if you are learning basic skills. Many of the Quia "quizzes" are paired with other online resources; for example, you may be asked to answer questions based on an online simulation, or analyze data from an online spreadsheet. You will have multiple attempts to demonstrate mastery, and your best score will be counted toward your grade. Please learn from your mistakes before you take the quiz again! If you don't have a perfect score on your Quia Quizzes going into the test, it means you gave up too soon!

3. Tests

Once we have worked through all of the concepts in the chapter, you'll have a chance to put together all of your skills and knowledge in a chapter test. This test will count more than your individual assignments, so I encourage you to review your Robot Assignments and Quia Quizzes as you study for the test! Tests are typically hard; however mastering the "Benchmark Assessments" will assure a passing grade for the course. The tests will help me distinguish "Average" (C), "Good" (B), and "Excellent" (A) achievement.

4. Projects

Each marking period will see one major project, which will count as much as a major test. You will be given one month to finish this project, and you will have to give me updates along the way. You will know the grading criteria from the time the project is assigned, so you have a great opportunity to use your creative talents and individual perspectives to earn a great grade!